Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Vanity in the Air
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The first breath of air I took after stepping down from the carriage was thick with vanity, arrogance, and conceit.
Proving it was a place that matched this atmosphere perfectly, it was the vast central courtyard of a villa spacious enough to accommodate all the incoming carriages with room to spare.
As soon as we halted our carriage, dozens of Ford family butlers emerged in perfect unison.
As if they'd rehearsed beforehand, they shouted simultaneously.
"Welcome! We shall escort you!"
Shwaaah...
Was it their determination not to let anyone touch the bare ground?
Carpets were rolled out for every single carriage. Every conceivable luxury was on full display.
A Ford butler approached us as well, and before we knew it, porters had taken our luggage.
"I'm Gail, assigned to escort the guests from the Pador family. It's an honor to serve you."
He bowed politely and murmured to Nellin and Marian.
"The maids from Pador House, this way..."
The spot he indicated was just beyond the carpet.
Where the servants stood.
This was a strict dividing line.
Perfect for instilling a sense of superiority in worldly-naive young nobles.
Marian and Nellin, looking intimidated, naturally started to slip aside like the servants from the other noble houses.
"Nellin, Marian. Where do you think you're going?"
"Y-Young master, we're... just servants, so we can't walk the path for nobles..."
"You're members of the Pador family."
I drew the two girls back inside the carpet.
The eyes of the Ford butler who had introduced himself as Gail widened for a moment.
"That alright?"
"Of course."
"Appreciate it."
The two girls, who had ended up standing beside us unexpectedly, clutched at their skirts.
Were they nervous?
"Don't tremble. Just follow along."
To loosen their stiff bodies, I took a step forward.
"We're the Pador family. No house here stands above us."
I started walking.
Ralph yelled from behind, "I should be in front!", but I ignored him.
The other noble youths kept shooting sidelong glances at our entrance.
Partly because we were the Padors, but mostly because of Marian and Nellin.
Occasional looks of contempt stabbed toward them.
Who did they think they were, staring like that?
They'd clearly been poorly raised in their families.
They had no idea how steep a price one wrong glance could bring.
Should I give them a warning?
"Tsk tsk, so nosy about other people's business. How vulgar."
"...!"
The noble youths sneaking glances flinched.
They must have been puzzled. I hadn't addressed them directly, and I kept walking as I spoke.
If it hit home, they'd lower their eyes on their own.
"If you've got a problem, come say it to my face."
I'll smash you to pieces.
Ralph rolled his eyes wildly in agreement.
"Well said! What're you staring at, you lot?!"
Handy to have a hothead like him in moments like this.
Unlike me, he often attended these public events.
"Isn't that Ralph?"
"Better steer clear. That guy's got a nasty temper."
One by one, they recognized Ralph and averted their gazes.
Why do people always avoid mad dogs?
Convenient when it's our family mutt.
The two girls, who had been trembling just moments ago, now followed us with eased minds.
As we walked, the dozens of carpets laid out like separate paths for each noble house merged into a single broad blue one.
We followed that blue carpet into the central hall.
Even with countless nobles and servants packed in, the central hall was so vast it wasn't even a third full.
Once there, the clear lines of acquaintance became obvious. Nobles chatted in clusters with their familiar faces.
And amid it all, I overheard talk about me.
Ladies hiding their mouths behind fans and parasols whispered among themselves.
"But who's that guy?"
"No idea. He's in front of Ralph... could it be Lord Ras?!"
"Really? That's great... Lord Ras hasn't married yet, right?"
"Maybe Lord Mihail."
"They say he never comes to these social events, but maybe he's finally here?!"
Hold on.
Me?
Doesn't the Pador family have three sons?
Ralph must have caught it too, because he snickered.
"You're a total ghost, huh?"
"..."
I wanted to sew that mouth shut, but... I couldn't argue.
Even without attending public events, to have this little presence?
Just then, someone recognized me and murmured.
"Oh, I got it. You know how Count Siel has three sons? The youngest is supposedly unusually delicate and feminine-looking. Doesn't that fit him perfectly?"
"I've heard that too! Rumor has it he's been ill, so he rarely leaves the family estate."
"How tragic. Of all places, in the Pador family... He must be completely out of the running for next head."
Is that how they see me?
Bitter, but a fair assessment.
The invalid of Pador House—that was me.
I resolved even more firmly to use this chance to elevate my rock-bottom position...
The ladies glanced me over and resumed their chatter.
"But seriously, how is his skin that flawless?"
Hm?
Damn it, my skin again?
My unusually pale complexion had long been one of mys.
After overcoming my frail body this time, my skin had firmed up and taken on a healthy sheen.
I thought it had improved.
Still the same?
But the ladies' next words were nothing like I'd expected.
"Right? How can it be so exquisite? Isn't his face the most beautiful here?"
Praise?
I used to hate being called pretty.
But hearing it now felt oddly good.
"Exactly. Even if he's from the Pador family and doesn't become next head, so what? It's the Pador house."
"I'd be fine even if he weren't a noble! With a face like that."
This level of reputation was more than welcome.
Nothing beats the thrill of compliments on one's looks.
Ralph had heard it too—his eyes turned to axes.
Mine, on the other hand, fanned out like a peacock's.
Oblivious to Ralph's feelings, the ladies kept whispering.
"Should we try talking to him?"
"Sounds go—"
"Shh, everyone quiet."
The noble ladies, who had been buzzing about us, abruptly hushed.
Because of the final group entering the central hall.
Even their footsteps brimmed with presence.
A woman clutched her fan in fear, hiding her face as she murmured upon seeing them.
"The North family..."
Purple-tinged hair.
Each one looked like a sculptor's self-indulgent masterpiece.
The North family entered the central hall as if they owned it.
Thud, thud.
As they walked, the other nobles naturally parted ways.
The Norths claimed a spot as if it were theirs, settling onto the sofas at one side of the hall.
Among them, the man at the center of the sofa.
He fixed his gray eyes on me.
What the hell was that look?
Having dealt with countless foes over many years, I knew it well.
That gaze... it was how one looks at the weak.
Hah, a fresh kind of arrogance.
"No way... didn't expect him to show."
Ralph and everyone else swallowed hard at the gray-eyed one's arrival.
Curious about this arrogant bastard, I genuinely asked Ralph.
"Who is he?"
Silence fell.
No one there could have missed my voice. Was even asking taboo?
What was with the reactions?
Even Ralph choked, coughing.
"Y-You...!"
"What's wrong, Ralph?"
"Ugh, what was Dad thinking, leaving me with a guy like you..."
Some big shot?
I eyed the gray gaze again.
Purple-tinged hair, gray eyes. From the North family.
A famous figure anyone would know.
Ah, right. That guy existed.
Truly famous. Even in my first life, he'd made major waves.
But those actions... didn't match his current demeanor at all.
That's why I hadn't recognized him.
"Gilbert North."
No wonder I missed it.
In my first life, he was the great criminal who stirred up all sorts of incidents in the empire.
The North family traitor, ultimately captured and executed by imperial knights.
Amazing.
Who'd have thought this arch-criminal was once the pride of the Norths in his youth.
I looked at him with pure curiosity.
But unintentionally, it must have come off differently to everyone here.
Seemed like I was burning with rivalry toward him.
The other noble youths glanced nervously at the Norths.
Gilbert crossed his legs.
And then...
"...!"
The man and woman flanking his gray eyes on the sofa.
North family members had approached right up to us.
They looked down at us, and the one seated on the sofa spoke.
"A crow trying to mimic an eagle?"
The eagle was the Pador symbol.
Insulting that, was he...
Ridiculous.
"Hm... is this what they mean by a frog in a well?"
Having faced armies as the Dark Venerable, I read the emotion in Gilbert's gaze.
Exactly the look a boy his age would have.
My lips just curled up.
Did it feel like provocation?
Killing intent radiated from the North youths.
In this powder-keg moment, a voice cut through.
"Enough, enough! Haha!"
Silver hair.
Andrew stepped between us.
"Long time no see, Deyan."
Acting chummy, he slung an arm around my shoulder.
Thinking he was helping, he turned my body.
"Calm down, calm down."
Along with him.
"Hahaha! Everyone's full of energy today!"
A boy with pale pink hair descended the spiral staircase, voice bright.
The Ford butlers all bowed as he appeared.
Ran Ford.
The second son of the Ford family.
Upon entering the central hall, he clapped his hands to diffuse the tension.
"I get you're all spirited, but how about some food first? You must be hungry."
He rubbed his stomach.
A somewhat frivolous gesture, but it had the power to make people smile.
"Haha, yeah, yeah. Starving here."
Andrew chimed in, and the other nobles nodded.
Ran Ford finally glanced between us and the Norths, gauging moods.
"Yeah, let's eat."
It was someone else's birthday banquet, so we'd oblige. I wasn't that rude.
Gilbert North gave a slight nod as well.
"Phew..."
Someone sighed in relief.
The chilled atmosphere thawed.
Not that I'd intended it, really.
Maybe because I'd instinctively slipped into Dark Venerable mode for a second.
It had happened without meaning to.
"You've all had a tough journey, so freshen up first, then dine. The butlers will guide you."
At Ran Ford's glance, the butlers expertly led the noble youths away.
Gail came to us too.
Unlike before, sweating a bit.
"This way, please."
Seeing where he took us, I understood why the Fords had boasted we wouldn't need separate lodgings.
It was a space large enough for each of us to have our own room.
Practically a house in itself.
"It's huge...!"
"Whoa, this is basically a mansion?"
Marian and Nellin wandered the rooms excitedly, and Ralph seemed satisfied, saying nothing.
Closs remained expressionless as ever.
"Is everything to your liking? Haha, Young Master Ran made special arrangements."
We'd probably gotten a bigger suite than the other houses.
Rooms varied in size, distance, and treatment by family prestige—it was only natural.
"Thank you for the consideration."
"Rest well, then...!"
Was it because of earlier?
Gail, looking a bit scared, retreated hastily.
As soon as the door closed, Ralph exhaled heavily.
"Deyan, didn't know you had it in you to go that hard."
"Hm?"
"How do you even think to pick a fight with Gilbert North? That guy's... honestly, even I'm wary of him."
"Think you've got the wrong idea. I wasn't picking a fight."
Marian and Nellin coughed subtly.
"From our view, it kind of..."
Really, it wasn't.
Wouldn't a seasoned master, battle-hardened, just laugh off a young punk's taunt?
"Anyway, just be careful. It's good not to cower before the Norths or the other four great houses, but we shouldn't start fights either."
Yeah, no.
Trouble was inevitable anyway.
It wasn't just about watching Gilbert North. This place was already a powder keg.
The Fords—and those guys—had invited us for exactly that purpose.